Railway truck



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 28, 1951 D. s. BARRows Erm.

RAILWAY TRUCK FiledJan. 2, 1 948 Aug. `28, 1951 Y D55, BARROWS p -rAL 2,566,158

. RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Jan. 2, 1948 y 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventors;

Donald S. Burrows Emil HBlort'ner By 'hefAHorney Patented ug. 28, 1951 RAILWAY TRUCK Donald S. Barrows and Emil H. Blattner, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of f Maryland Application January 2, 1948, Serial No. 112

(Cl. 10S-224) 30 Claims.

This invention pertains to a railway truck and more particularly to a snubbed or controlled type thereof.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved railway truck wherein a side frame member and journal box have a built in snubbing device to check or control relative vertical and horizontal movements thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved railway truck wherein a side frame and journal box have an articulated snubbing device associated therewith to control relative service movements therebetween.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in an improved railway truck, of a snubbing means engaging a side frame and journalV box with anti-rattling means interposed between the journal box and snubbing means.

The above and numerous other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplified form of the i'nvention illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevational view and a partial vertical sectional View of a portion of a railway truck embodying a form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional View of the railway truck shown in Figure 1, and is taken along the lines 2 2 thereof looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the railway truck shown in Figure l and is taken along the lines 3-3 thereof looking in the direc tion of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the railway truck shown in Figure l and is taken along the lines 4 4 of Figure l, looking in the direction oi the arrows; part of the structure of a true view being omitted for clarity.

Figure 5 is a group view of the components of a part of the invention showing the parts thereofin separated or exploded form to more clearly illustrate the details thereof.

Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the reference character l is employed to indicate, in a somewhat general manner, a railway truck exemplary of the present invention with particular reference to a journal box mounting thereof. As hereinabove indicated, only a portion of the improved railway truck is illustrated in the drawings, since the undisclosed portion may be of any conventional design and, by way of further explanation,

the disclosed part of the truck is characteristic of only one of the four corners of the truck as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the particular art to which this invention appertains.

The railway truck generally comprises a side frame 2 having a compression member 3 formed by a top web 4 and transversely spaced, depending flanges 5 and a tension member 6 also of inverted U-shape in cross section formed by a top web 'l4 and laterally spaced,l depending flanges The compression and tension members merge adjacent an extremity of the side frame to continue therebeyond as an integral design to the extremity of the side frame and thus form what might be considered as areceptacle 9 with the tension member web extending substantially horizontally in lower spaced relation to the compression member web.

The receptacle 9 is formed in part by horizontally spaced jaws or pedestals or columns i5 which open downward and toward one another to dene therebetween an opening I! extending transversely of the side frame for the accommo dation or reception of a journal box I2. Each jaw is substantially of U-shape or design in horizontal section to thereby present an inboard or inner flange or wall i3 and an outboard or outer ange or wall I4 both of which are joined adjacent a free or trailing edge by a rear or con necting wall l5.

The journal box I2 may be of a type to ac-V box and the side frame are arranged as herein-1` after .set forth for relative movement therebetween. In the instant structure, the journal box, at a location below the center line of anA axle indicated by the diagrammatic line A-A in Figure 3, is provided with oppositely disposedy or horizontally directed shelves or rests l which extend into the pedestal or column iorming jaws. Reinforcing ribs Il underlie or depend from the journal box proper and rests to theren `by strengthen these elements against forces to which they will be subjected in service. As pren viously indicated, the journal box and side frame are arranged for relative movement therebetween and one of these movements is in a vertical die rection. For the accomplishment of this rela tive vertical movement there is provided between the side frame and journal box, a pair of resilient or load carrying or spring means IB with each means characterized by a double coil or 3 helical spring I9. Each double coil spring is positioned within the confines of a related jaw to extend in a vertical direction substantially or normally parallel to an associated side wall 2e of the journal box and has an upper preferably flat extremity 2l bearing against a suitable depression or top spring seat 22, the latter of which is formed on the web of the tension member. While these latter mentioned spring seats are shown and described as being formed on the tension member extension they may equally as well be formed on the compression member web with suitable apertures provided in the tension member web for the passage therethrough. f This alternate or suggested structure may be employed if it is desired to utilize spring means of longer travel than that illustrated in the drawings.

To add to the flexibility of the railway'truck c and thus compensate for irregularities in the supporting surface of the rails, the journal box is arranged to move in a direction transversely of the side frame or railway truck. 'I'he limits within which the journal box may move transversely are determined by the clearance or space between the free or abutment forming outer edges ofthe column inboard and outboard walls or flanges designated by the reference character 23 and guiding lugs 24 outstanding from the side walls of the journal box.

With all the relative movements provided for between the side frame and journal box, it is believed essential that some means for the control of these movements, both Vertical and horizontal, be incorporated in the structure to avoid or circumvent the derailment of the truck. With this thought therefore uppermost in mind, an effective and positive friction creating means, commonly and hereinafter sometimes conveniently termed a friction or snubbing means, is built into the structure under immediate consideration. The friction means generally designated by the reference character 25 are disposed, preferably, at each side of the journal box and each friction means is restrained or confined, against a relative vertical movement with respect to the journal box, in an open sided housing 26. The housing at each side of the journal box is formed in part by vertically spaced, outstanding ledges or upper and lowerY lugs 21 which may, as desired, be formed or cast as an integral part of the journal box or, as an alternative, as separate componentsand subsequently secured to the journal box by any preferred method or means. The ledges extend horizontally from the side walls of the journal box into the side frame columns with sufcient clearance thereabout to avoid interference between the ledges and side frame columns throughout the entire range of relative movements therebetween. The ledges are positioned intermediate the height of the coil springs as illustrated and are of such extent so as to terminate short of the coil springs. A wear plate 28 is welded or otherwise secured to each journal box side wall thus dening a closed area of the housing for the purpose to be hereinafter made apparent. Thus each housing is formed, at least in part, by the vertically spaced ledges and as interposed vertically and transversely disposed wear plate. Also each housing is preferably formed, so far as the journal box is concerned, so as to open longitudinally of the side frame away from the journal box and transversely of the truck.

The leading or free portion of each inboard and outboard column flange is, for at least the away from the journal box.

greater portion of its vertical extent, ared or inclined as at 23; the inboard ilange being flared inwardly of the truck and the outboard flange being dared outwardly of the truck so that by considering each column the flanges thereof comprise relatively ilared parts diverging away from one another. These flared portions present sloping or inclined surfaces 30 which have wear or rubbing plates 3l secured thereto by any desired manner, fashion or method. In'effect, the rubbing plates may be, if so desired, also considered as parts of the housings 26 or at least defining the lateral or transverse limits of the housings.

Disposed or confined within each housing is a pair of preferably counterpart wedges 32. Each wedge desirably comprises a sloping or inclined or rubbing surface 33 arranged to bear constantly against a correspondingly disposed surface 34 of a related wear plate 3l. In order to maintain the wedges in assembled relation when the side frame is removed from the journal box and for other purposes to be made hereinafter apparent, each wedge has, extending horizontally from adjacent a vertical end thereof, a bracket arm or rib 35 which, in each instance, is disposed adjacent to a ledge. Each wedge bracket, extending transversely of the side frame or truck, is disposed between adjacent or companion journal box ledges but are nevertheless in spaced relation to a related journal box wear plate. The wedge arms are preferably formed as hooks (see Figure 5) with one hook of a wedge opening inwardly toward the journal box and the other hook of the same wedge opening outwardly The Wedges are reversible and accordingly when two such wedges are mated in a snubber or snubbing unit at a side of a journal box an inwardly opening hook will be in the same plane as an outwardly opening hook so that they will be in position to engage one kanother if and when a, side frame is removed from an assemblage. There is, of course, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, suflicient clearance about related or mated hook arms to allow a free independent service movement of the respective wedges. During service, therefore, one wedge of a mated pair will not affect the function or. operability of the other wedge.

If desired the arrangement of wedge arms and journal box ledges could bc such as to permit direct contact between the ledges and arms. Such an arrangement is taught by a companion or copending application for Letters Patent of D. S. Barrows covered by .Serial Number 630,230 and filed November 23, 1945. While the structure of the copending application may be at times desired and preferred it may on the other hand be slighted because, at least theoretically, there may be a slight tendency inthe structure to develop chattering or rattling noise. Because of this theoretical tendency in the structure of the copending application above referred to an antirattling or anti-chattering device has been incorporated into the present structure. The present structure lendsV itself quite well to innumerable arrangements but for the purpose merely of illustration there is provided adjacent each end of a pair of mated wedges a spring means characterized by a single lleaf-spring 36. Each leaf spring is bowed or arched with its intermediate part bearing against a related or adjacent ledge. Each wedge, at the base of each arm thereof v'is provided with a relief or indenture 3'! and -in ,each relief there is positioned an extremity of snub the action of the side frame supporting springs. It will be noted further that the use of the leaf springs will not interfere with a transverse movement of the journal box relative to the side'frame.

Now it may be well to consider the provision in the present structure for allowing the journal box to move transversely of the ltruck or side frame.. This permissible movement is, as previously indicated, to add exibility to the truck because as the wheel and axle assemblies (not shown) progress along the tracks upon which they run, they are continually being urged transversely toward and away from the rails of the tracks due to the irregularities in the tracks. By providing for a limited transverse movement of the journal boxes the impulses caused by a transverse shifting of the wheel and axle assemblies will not be imparted to the side frames. The side frame supporting springs being of coil design are of such character that they will allow the journal box to move transversely by becoming somewhat distorted. Such distortion will, of course, build up additional forces in the coil springs and these additional forces will assist in returning the side frame and journal box to a normal relationship because of the inherent tendency for the coil springs to return to their natural or preformed shape.

While provisions have been made in the present structure to permit a transverse journal box movement it is also deemed or thought advisable to check or control such transverse movements as might take place and, as a matter of fact, are bound to take place during service. Toward the accomplishment of the above each wall of the journalbox has associated therewith a pair of` counterpart shoes or blocks 38 which are also reversible as hereinafter considered more in de tail so as to avoid the manufacture of one right hand and the other left hand. Each shoe has a plate or deck 39 which at alltimes is made to bear against a related or adjacent journal box wear plate 28 so as to create frictional forces upon any or the slightest transverse shifting movement of the journal box. Each shoe deckl is formed with a stepped inner edge so as to present outstanding lingers 40 with one finger 40abeing positioned at an end of the deck and vanother finger 40h being positioned spaced from the former but intermediate the ends of the deck. Accordingly if one shoe is turned end for end through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees it may be mated with another shoe toV cause it might not be feasible or economical during manufacture to form in one component sur-- Thus two mated shoes 6 faces so disposed to one another that they will bear throughout against a ared surface and journal box wear plate. Further the journal box is free to execute several other movements which should be taken into consideration. One such movement is a rotary motion about its supporting axle within the clearance limits between the journal box side walls and related side frame flanges, also a horizontal angling movement rela-i tive to the side frame within the same herein above identified limits and finally a vertical angling movement. Because of all of the above recited possible journal box movements it is at the present writing preferred to not only form the shoes as separate items from the wedges but in addition to present some arrangement to al-y low some latitude of adjustability between these components. With this thought foremost in mind each wedge is provided with a socket 4| intermediate its height or ends ope-ning inwardly of the snubbing means with each socket of spherical conguration. Outstanding from each shoe deck is a wall or barrier 42 spaced a slight or predetermined distance from a related wedge and extending between arms of the adjacent Wedge in a direction away from the journal box. Forming a part of the barrier or rather preferably formed integral therewith intermediate its height is a protuberance desirably of ball formation and of such configuration to fit neatly with a wedge' socket. This ball and socket arrangement presents a pivotal joint or a universal or articulated joint at the wedge-shoe contact to thereby allow the shoes to follow the service movements of the journal box, still maintaining a full surface bearing relation therebetween and also allow the wedges to maintain a full surface bearing contact with the flared surfaces carried by the side frame.

In order to maintain the shoes in constant enn gagement with the journal box and the Wedges in constant contact with the side frame there is provided a set of yieldable or resilient means in each snubbing device. Characteristic of such yieldable means is a pair of coil springs spaced one above another and acting transversely of the truck. The coil springs 43 are arranged so that one such spring is on each side of a center of the ball and socket arrangement and accordingly the springs of a pair keep balanced between the shoes. The coil springs are maintained in fixed relation with the shoes by the presence of studs 44 in standing from the shoe barriers and which extend into ends of related springs.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the structure herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings without departing fromk the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. v v

We claim:

1. In a railway truck of the character having au 2. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arrangedfor rela- 7. tive vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, relatively flared surfaces on saidside frame in telescopingrelationwith said ledges, wedges interposed between said ledges and ha-ving surfaces arranged to engage frictionally said relatively llared surfaces, means universally mounted on said wedges, and spring means acting upon said means for urging said wedges in a direction away from one another.

3. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, horizontally spaced relatively flared surfaces on said side frame, wedges interposed between said ledges and havingsurfaces arranged to engage frictionally said flared surfaces, means universally mounted on said wedges, and horizontally acting yieldable means acting upon said first named means.

4. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, horizontally spaced relatively flared surfaces carried by said side frame, Wedges interposed between said ledges and having surfaces arranged to engage frictionally said flared surfaces, means interposed between said wedges, articulated means on said Wedges and iirst named means for allowing said wedges and rst named means to assume different angular relationships, and spring means acting against said first named means.

5. In a railway truck of the character having a sideframe and journal box arranged for relative Vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, horizontally spaced relatively ilared surfaces on said side frame and tel-escoping said ledges, wedges interposed between and frictionally engaging said flared surfaces, edualizing means bearing against said wedges, and spring means urging said equalizing means apart.

6. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for rela-- tive vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, relatively flared surfaces on said side frame and extending vertically beyond the horizontal limits of said ledges, wedges between said ledges and frictionally engagingy said flared surfaces, adjusting means bearing against said wedges, and spring means interposed between and bearing against said adjusting means.

'7. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative Vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, relatively flared surfaces on said side frame and extending vertically beyond the horizontal limits of said ledges, wedges between said ledges and frictionally engaging said flared surfaces, means interposed between said wedges, ball and socret means between said rst named means and wedges, and spring means urging said first named means toward said wedges.

8. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, relatively fiared surfaces on said side frame in telescoping relation with said ledges, wedges interposed between said ledges and having surfaces arranged. tofeng-agefrictionally said relatively flared surfaces, spring means urging. said wedges apart, and spring means between one of said wedges and one of said ledges. .v

)9. In a railway truck ofthe character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced surfaces outstanding from saidjournal box, relatively flared surfaces on said side frame inA telesccping relation with said ledges,wedges interarranged to ,engage frictionally said relatively flared surfaces, spring means urging saidwelges` against said flared surfaces, and anti-rattling means between said wedges and ledges.

10. In a railway truck of `the characterhaving a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, Lvertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, relatively flared surfaces on said side frame in telescoping relation with `said ledges, wedges interposed between said ledges and having surfaces arranged to engage frictionally said relatively flared surfaces, horizontally directed means on said wedges in overlapping relation to one another to limit expansive movement of said wedges, resilient means for urging said wedges, against said flared surfaces, and yieldable means between said horizontally directed means and ledges.

11. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for rela-- tive vertical and horizontal movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame overlapping said outstanding means, Wedgemeans engaging said side frame means, movable means engaging 4said Wedge means and journal box, and spring means urging said wedge means against said side frame means and said movable means against said journal box for controlling all of said .relative movements.

12. In a railway truck of the charac-ter having a journal box and side frame arranged for rela, tive vertical and horizontal movement-s, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal bination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formedon 'said side frame overlapping said outstanding means, wedge means engaging said side frame means, means pivoted on `said wedge means and bearing against said journal box, yieldable means urging said wedge means against said side frame means and said pivoted means against said journal 'box for controlling all of said relative movements; and resilient means acting between said wedge meansand outstanding means.

14. In a. railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged vfor relative vertical and horizontal movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame overlap-` ping said outstanding means, wedge means engaging said side frame means, means pivoted on. y said wedge means. surfaces onsaid pivoted means4 tionally engaging said flared surfaces and ar` ranged for movement relative thereto by said vertically spaced means, means pivoted to said rst named means, and spring means between said pivoted means for urging said first named means into engagement with one of said members.

16. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from said journal box, relatively flared surfaces on said side frame in telescoping relation with said ledges,

wedges interposed between said ledges and having surfaces arranged to engage frictionally said relatively flared surfaces, means pivotally mounted on said wedges intermediate the height thereof, and vertically spaced horizontally acting spring means acting against said pivoted means for urging said Wedges against said flared surfaces.

17. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative vertical and horizontal movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame overlapping saidoutstanding means, lwedge means engaging said side frame means, means pivotally mounted on said wedge means intermediate the height thereof, vertically spaced horizontally acting springs acting between and against said last named means, and surfaces 'on said last named means frictionally engaging said journal box.

18. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative vertical and horizontal movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame overlapping said outstanding means, wedge means engaging said side frame means, shoe means pivotally mounted on said wedge means and having surfaces frictionally engaging said journal box, and spring means reacting against said shoe means at opposite sides of pivotal mountings between said shoe means and wedge means.

19. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative vertical and horizontal movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame overlapping said outstanding means, wedge meansengaging said side frame means, shoe means pivotally mounted on said wedge means and having surfaces frictionally engaging said journal box, spring means reacting against said shoe means at opposite sides of pivotal mountings between said shoe means and wedge means, and springs acting lbetween said outstanding means and shoe means.

20. In a railway truck of the character having a side frame and journal box arranged for relative vertical movement, the combination of, vertically spaced ledges outstanding from one side of said journal box, surfaces on said side frame adjacent said ledges, wedges between said ledges and having surfaces arranged to engage frictionally said side frame surfaces, means pivotally mounted on said wedges, coil springs urging said last named means against said wedges, and leaf springs interposed between said ledges and wedges.

2l. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on the side frame overlapping said outstanding means, wedge means engaging said side frame means, movable blocks between said outstanding means and bearing against wedge means and having plates in contact with said journal box, and spring means interposed between said movable blocks.

22. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame overlapping said outstanding means, wedge means engaging said side frame means, blocks between said outstanding means and bearing against said wedge means, ball and socket joints on said wedge means and blocks, and spring means interposed between said blocks.

23. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame associated with said outstanding means, friction creating means bearing against said side frame means, sockets in said friction creating means, blocks between said friction creating means, convex surfaces on said blocks ywithin said sockets, and spring means between said blocks.

24. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means outstanding from said journal box, means formed on said side frame associated with said outstanding means, friction creating means bearing against said side frame means, sockets in said friction creating means, blocks between said friction creating means, convex surfaces on said blocks within said sockets, spring means between said blocks. and means between said outstanding means and friction creating means for resisting relative vertical shifting of said journal box and friction creating means.

25. In a railway truck ofy the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means carried by said journal box, means carried by said side frame and Vassociated with said first named y means, wedges bearing against said second named nalrbox, movable joints between said blocks Wedges, and spring means between said blocks.

27. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means carried by said journal box, means carried by said side frame and disposed at an angle to said rst named means, transversely spaced wedges bearing against said second named means, transversely spaced blocks bearing against said Wedges and associated with said first named means, a

Vuniversal joint between each wedge and block,

and spring means between said blocks.

28. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means carried by said journal box, means carried by said side frame and disposed at an angle to said first named means, transversely spaced wedges bearing against said second named means, blocks associated with said rst named means and interposed between and movable relative to said wedges, and spring means interposed between said blocks for urging the'la'tter apart.

29. In a railway truck of the character having a journal box and side frame arranged for relative movements, the combination of, means carried by saidjournal box, means carried .by said side frame and disposed at an angle to said rst named means, spaced Wedges in frictional contact with said second named means, blocks interposed between and movable by said first named andl Y 1:2 means, said biocfs `trji'g spaed apart trans; versely and movably connected to said Wedges', and resilient means between said blocks for ilrgi ing the latter apart. l ,Y y

30. In a railway truck of the characterhaving a journal` box and side frame arranged'for rela tive movements, the combination of, means clarri'ed by' said journal box, means carried by said side frame and disposed at an angle to said @rst named means, spaced wedges in frictonal Contact with said second naned means, blocks in fric tional contact witnsaid journal box and inter posed between said 'rst named means, vsaicl Vbloclz's; being spaced apart and movably uninfected,v to said wedges, and lres'ilientmeans between said blocks for urging'sai'dblocks into engagement with said journal box and said wedges into engagement with said second named means.

DONALD s. rzsARRovw/"s EMIL BLATTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent: Y Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Maat'man et a1.. Jan. '20, 1948 

